Transferrer latches for weft replenishing looms



Jan. 7, 1958 s. o. DODGE 2,813,885

TRANSFERRER LATCHES FOR WEFT REPLENISHING LOOMS Filed April 19. 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. U

AT TORNEY Jan. 7, 1958 s. 0. DODGE 2,818,885

TRANSFERRER LATCHES FOR WEFT REPLENISHING LOOMS Filed April 19, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

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ATTORNEY United States Patent LATcHEs For; 'WEFT REP-LENISHING LOOMS Sherw oodp. Dodge, Medfprd, Mass assignor to H. F. "Liverm e cbrporanon, Allston, Mass, 'a corporation of Delaware Application' April 19, 1955, SerialN0.502;462

Tonnes. c1."1s9-243 The present invention relates to the weft-replenishing mechanism of automatic looms, and more particularly to the latchmechani-sm which is'employed to supply the actuating impulse which causes the transferrer to force a full bobbin from the magazine into the shuttle to replace the spent bobbin, when weft replenishment is called for by the weft detector device of the replenishing mechanism. e I V In both of t'he-two common weft-replenishing systems, as exemplified respectively in the Draper and Crompton & Knowles looms, the latch comprises a pendent memberpivoted to the transferrer and adaptedto have its rear end tipped up-into the path of the hunter on the lay so as to be struck thereby and actuate the transferrer, when the change of weiftis 'to occur.

In both priorcases, the latchis made in two parts, a body portion termed the latch stand which'is pivoted to the arm of the transferr'er, and a latch -finger adjustably mounted on the body by means of a parralel-sided or rectangular portion at its forward end which is received in a corresponding parallelsided or rectangular groove or way formed on one side of the body, the parts being united by a single bolt :passing through a hole in one member anda slotdn the other member. Commonly, an adjusting scr'ew is threaded through the terminal wall at the frontward end of the groove tobear'againstthe front end of the latch finger and thus to determine the rearward extent of the latch finger from the latch body toward the lay, and to assist the cross-bolt in holding the two parts in relatively adjusted position. The end of the latch finger is notched for certainty of engagement'with the hunter on the lay.

In practice, it impossible or extremely difficult to keep the latchfinger tight on its latch stand. Both the latch stand and the finger have conventionally been made of cast iron with their co-engaging surfaces unfinished, so that theroughness of thesesurfaces 'prevents a good seat of one part upon the other. The vibration of these parts is severe wheh the lodm isrifnhihg owiiig to their necessarily loose rnounting on the transferrer arm, and the latch finger attached to its stand in unbalanced relation by the single bolt put through its light forward end, I -lence, constant vigilance and continual i e-tightening of the retaining bolt are required of the loom -fixer, lest the latch finger fall off or loosen so far as to fail to actuate the trahstner 'corfe'tlyjwith "afes'iiltafit'sp'lit shuttle, Broken magazine frame, bobbin smash, or other disastrous consequence.

The main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved latch construction in which the parts will have little or no tendency to shake loose. Other objects are to supply a simple and inexpensive structure providing for easy manufacture, installation, and adjustment.

To these ends, the invention comprises a body portion or latch stand cast in one piece and comprising essentially an internally threaded sleeve or barrel equipped with the necessary mounting and controlling eyes, and a latch finger mounted in screw-threaded relation within the Patented Jan. 7, 1958 .2 barrel, whereby the latch finger is extensibly and retractably mounted in -fixed working relation within the latch stand.

Further objects of 'the invention, and the manner of their attainment, are as set forth hereinafter.

Illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. '1 is a side elevation of the improved transferrer latch.

Fig. 2 is a'plan view, Fig. 3 a left-hand end elevation, and Fig. 4 a "right-hand end elevation, of the body portion or latch stand alone.

Fig. 5 is a side "elevation of an alternative form of the improved transferrer latch.

Fig. 6 is a plan View, Fig. 7 a bottom view, and Fig. 8 a right hand endelevation, of the body portion of Fig. 5.

The embodiment of Figs. 1 to 4 is adapted for use in a Draper automatic loom, and comprises a body portion or latch stand 1 and latch finger 3 mounted therein in a ma nnerto be described. The body 1 is provided with a lug 5 provided with a hole '7 and mounted in usual manner in afork on the depending arm of the transferrer (not shown) by a pinpassing through the hole 7 and correspending holes in the fork of the transferrer arm.

On-thelower sideof body 1 a lug 9 is provided, having an elongated slot 11 which is a djustably positioned a stud 13 having an'integral shoulder 15 and a threaded shank, the latter being rigidly held in adjusted position in the slot'by a nut 17. This stud as usual is engaged by the customary curved slot in the latch depresser (not shown) of the replenishing mechanism, by means of which the latch -is put in operative position. The body 1 has an-axial passage or bore 19 extending through it from end to end, one portion of such passage being internally threaded as indicated at 21 while the remainder 'is'smooth and of greater diameter than the root diameter of the threads of such portion.

Latch finger 3 is'made from a portion of hexagonal stock, conveniently a-portion of cold rolled steel stock of standard commercial size, which is turned down to circular section throughout all of its length except a short portion at one end which -is left hexagonal. The round portion is threaded as indi'cated'at 23 at one end and for roughly half its length and screwed into the threaded portion -21 of body 1, the remainder being smooth and unthreaded, and seated within the smooth part of bore 19. The hexagonalportion 25 provides for turning the latch finger by a wrench when needed. The latch is thus mounted in telescoping relation within the body. It is notched as seen at 27 for sure engagement by the dog (not shown) on the lay which is used to engage the latch to actuate the transferrer and effect weft replenishment when the latter is called for. As will be obvious, latch finger 3 is adjustable in passage 1% of the body 1 by screwing it further in or out, to vary the rearward extent of the lacth finger from the tubular body 1 so as to time the transfer of the weft by the transferrer and also to determine the stroke of the latter.

It will be noted that the lug 9 is split at 29 bya slot riiniiing 'iiitopassa ge 19 for about'half the length of the latter. Thus stud 13 and its nut 17 hold the split portion of body 1 in tightly gripping relation about latch finger 3 when this stud is in its normal tightly fixed relation in slot 11.

By way of eliminating all possibility of the latch finger 3 coming loose in latch stand or body 1, a locknut 31 may be applied to the outward end of screw-threaded portion 23 and set up tightly against the end of body 1.

In certain cases, the threads on the finger and in the passage are omitted, the passage is made as a socket, and an axial adjusting screw is threaded through the closed from end of the passage to engage the end of the finger which is retained'by the clamping action effected by stud 13.

By these provisions, it will be understood, the. latch finger is mounted in the latch stand beyond all possibility of working loose under vibration, while the relative-extension of the parts admits of simple and easy adjustment.

The alternative form of Fig. 5 is adapted for use in Crompton & Knowles automatic change-box looms. ,The body portion or latch stand 35 has the usual mounting lug 37 provided with a hole 39 whereby it is mounted on a pin in the forked end of the transferrer (not shown) after the manner already described. Lug 37 has an integral arm 41 terminating in a boss 43 in which is fixed a stud 45 which in use is connected by a slotted link to an arm of the selector mechanism of the magazine holding the fresh supplies of weft, all these parts being of standard and known construction and hen cenot shown.

As in the first embodiment, the body 35 has an internal bore 47 which is threaded for about A of its length as indicated at 49. A latch finger 51substantially identical with the finger 3 of the first form, and provided with screw threads 52 for about half its length, is in screw-threaded engagement with the portion 49 of such bore, the unthreaded smooth portion 47 of the bore being relieved in diameter to receive and engage the smooth portion of the shank of finger 51. This latch finger'has a hexagonal head formed as already described to provide the facets 53 for the application of a wrench and notched at 55 for engagement with the dog on the lay. A lock'nut 57 is provided to hold the latch finger in advanced or retracted position attained by rotating it within the passage 47, 49 of the body.

It will be obvious in this instance also that the latch finger 51 is so securely combined with the body portion by the screw threads and the lock nut that loosening or escape is effectually prevented while easy adjustment of the rearward extent of the latch finger is'easily attained.

It will also be seen that in each form the body portion 1 supports the latch finger at each side of the center of mass of the finger, i. e., both toward the notched rearward end and also toward the threaded end, and that this center of mass is substantially directly opposite the supporting eye 5, 39. Thus a balanced support of the latch finger is attained, with the overhang at one end serving as a counterpoise for the overhang at the other. This diminishes the tendency to work loose or to wear the supports and connections of the latch and its operating means, and reduces the effort of raising the latch when called into action.

The usual lug 59 is provided for attachment of a spring (not shown) holding the latch in its normal inactive tilted position with the notched rear end of the finger depressed out of the path of the dog on the lay.

While I have illustrated and described certain forms in which my invention may be embodied, I am aware that many modifications may be made therein by any person skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore, I do not WlSh to be limited to the particular forms shown, or to the details of construction thereof, but

What I do claim is:

1. A transferrer latch for weft-replenishing mechanism 4 having in combination a tubular body, means for pivotally attaching it to a transferrer, a latch finger in screwthreaded engagement with the interior of the tubular body, and means preventing relative movement of the finger and body.

2. A transferrer latch forweft-replenishing mechanism having in combination an internallyv threaded tubular body, means thereon for pivotally, mounting it on the transferrer, a latch finger externally threaded for engagement with the threaded interior of the body and notched at one end, and a stud on the body clamping the body about the finger.

3. A transferrer latch for. weft-replenishing mechanism having in combination a tubular body internally threaded for a portion of'its length and of smooth bore and greater diameter throughout another portion of its length, means for pivotally mounting it on the transferrer, a cylindrical latch finger having a threaded portion engaging with the threaded portion of the body and a smooth portion engaging with the smooth portion of the bore of the body, and means preventing rotation of the latch within the bore of the body. 7 r H 4. A transferrer latch for weft-replenishing mechanism having in combination a tubular body, means for pivotally attaching it to a transferrer, a finger telescoping within the bore of the body and axially adjustable in its extent from the body, the body being split to its bore along one side, and a stud holding the split portionof the body in gripping relation with the finger. V I

5. A transferrer latch for weft-replenishing mechanism having in combination a tubular bodyameans for pivotally attaching it to a transferrer, a finger telescoping within the borejof the body and axially adjustable in its extent from the body, the body'being split to its bore along one side, and a stud drawing the sides of the split toward eacho'ther. I I

Atr ansferrer latch for weft-replenishing mechanism having in combination a tubular body, means for pivotally attaching it to a transformer, a finger telescoping within the bore of the body and axially adjustable in its extent from the body, a lug on the body, the body being split through the lug to the bore of the body, and a stud through the split lug holding the split portion of the body in gripping relation with the latch finger.

7. A transferrer latch for weft-replenishing mechanism having in combination a tubular body, means for pivotally attaching it to a transferrer, and a finger telescoping within the bore of the body and axially adjustable in its extent from the tubular body, the body having means in connection therewith for exerting radial gripping pressure upon the finger and holding it in operatively fixed relation to the body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,415,492 Southwick May 9, 1922 1,427,421 Stafiord Aug. 29, 1922 2,654,400 Donoghue Oct. 6, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,077,517 France Nov. 9, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. ,885 January '7 1958 Sherwood O Dodge t error appear orrec It .is hereb; certified the. s in the printed speoification of the above numbered patent requiring 0 tion andthat the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 2, line 56, for "lacth" read --=latoh-=-; column '4, line 39, claim 6, for "transformer" read --transferrer--.

Signed and sealed this 18th day of February 1958.,

(SEAL) Attest;

KARL AXLINE ROBERT 0., WATSC Commissioner of Pateni Arresting Officer 

